Hurricane Center’s storm surge specialist to speak in Buxton

Jamie Rhome, the storm surge specialist with the National Hurricane Center, will give a presentation on the latest developments in storm surge forecasting on Saturday, May 21, from 10 until 11 a.m. at the Fessenden Center on Highway 12 in Buxton.

The event is being organized by Dare County Emergency Management during Hurricane Preparedness Week, which is May 15-21. The first 10 attendees to the Buxton event will receive an emergency preparedness kit.

Rhome oversees the Hurricane Center’s Storm Surge Unit, producing storm surge forecasts, storm surge research, and development activities, and post-storm analysis and validation studies. Rhome also serves as the subject matter expert on storm surge and coastal inundation for the National Weather Service’s hurricane program.

Also in observance of Hurricane Preparedness Week, there will be a  Hurricane Preparedness and Safety Open House on Friday, May 20, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Nags Head Fire Station 16 located at 5314 S. Croatan Highway.

Local emergency assistance agencies will be on hand with activities, displays, and information to help protect lives and property in the event of a hurricane or other national disaster. Rhome will give a presentation at 6:30 p.m., providing an overview of storm surge and National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center programs.

The Hurricane Preparedness and Safety Open House is a family-friendly, free event. Emergency assistance vehicles will be on display and available for tours. Local government planning department officials will be on hand to help participants understand flood zones and proactive measures that may be taken to reduce flood insurance rates and protect your home. Participants will also have the opportunity to stop by and chat with Emergency Management staff to ensure they have the proper reentry credentials necessary to return to the area following an evacuation.

Participating agencies include; Dare County Emergency Management, Nags Head Fire Department, Dare County, Southern Shores and Nags Head Planning Departments, Dare County Health & Human Services, Dare County EMS, Nags Head Ocean Rescue, North Carolina Emergency Management, the Outer Banks Repeater (HAM) Association, and Nags Head Community Watch.